Island



Patented June 24, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

(1120mm a;

mmvmm wumuumu. or z G. ROSSI.

AERIAL TORPEDO.

APP! ICATION FILED nov. 9. 19:8.

1 ,307,928. Patented June 24, 1919.

3 SHEETS SHEET 3 womboz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GIUSEPPE ROSSI, OF NATICK, RHODE ISLAND.

AERIAL TORPEDO.

Application filed November 9, 1918.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GIUsnrrn ltossr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Natick, in the county of Kent and State of Rhode Island, have invented new and useful Improvements in Aerial Torpedoes. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to aerial torpedoes, the broad object in view being to produce a flying torpedo embodying novel driving means, and tripping or firing means, whereby the device as a whole may be propelled through the air any predetermined distance and to any desired altitude, the device em bodying wing destroying bombs which are exploded after a predetermined amount of travel of the torpedo, thereby permitting the torpedo to dro rapidly upon the enemy when it explodes by impact.

With the above object in view, the invention consists in the construction, combina tion and arrangement of parts, as herein described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the aerial torpedo.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the torpedo.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section through the feed screw showing the means for preventing the feed screw from turning.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View on an enlarged scale showing the starting means.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the same mechanism taken at a right angle to Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section showing the gearing connections between the propeller shaft and the feed screw.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken at a right angle to Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevation showing the means for varying the angle of the torpedo body and the supporting wings and propelling means therefor.

The aerial torpedo contemplated in this invention comprises a body or shell 1 having a forwardly tapering or pointed nose portion 2 at the forward extremity of which is mounted a tractor screw propeller 3. The propeller 3 is mounted upon a rotary shaft 4 which extends centrally and longitudinally through the shell. or body of the torpedo and projects in rear. thereof where it has fast thereon a Worm 5, the purpose of whlch will presently appear.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial Nd. 261,820.

The torpedo body or shell 1 is supported in the air by means of planes or wings (3 forming aerial surfaces similar to those used in airplane practice. The torpedo body is mounted upon a wheeled base comprising a. supporting frame or platform 7 and carrying wheels 8. lilxtending upwardly from the frame or platform 7 is a pair of trans-- vcrsely opposite standards 9 having sockets 10 in the upper ends thereof to receive run nions 11 projecting from lhe opposite sides of the torpedo body or shell 1. The supporting saddle 12 also extends upwardly from the body or frame of the wheeled base and forms a rest for the body or shell of the torpedo. Extending rearwardly from the base 1. is a horizontal rudder supporting arm 13 on the extremity of which is a. horiaontal rudder 1-1. The rudder 11 may be adjusted before launching the torpedo in the air, so that any desired altitude may be attained by the device as a whole.

Arranged under the wings or supporting planes of the device are explosive bombs 15 having connected thereto fuses 16 extending to the rear of the body or shell of: the torpedo where said fuses are attached to a cap or detonator 17. the latter being arranged to be struck and fired by a firing pin or trigger 18. The trigger 18 is pivotally mounted at 19 on an extension of the body or shell 1 and is arranged in the path of a trip finger 20 having a ring-like body portion 21 which is threaded upon a feed screw 22 extending transversely of the rear end of the torpedo as shown in Fig. 2 for example. The finger 20 may be turned upon the feed screw 22 and adjusted longitudinally thereof so that it may be caused to come in contact with and operate the trigger 18 at an earlier or later period according to the distance to be traveled by the. torpedo.

The feed screw 21 passes through and is slidable in a worm gear 23. the latter being rotatable between a pair of oppositely located stop collars 24 secured by means of brackets 25 to the rear end of the torpedo shell or body 1. The feed screw is prevented from rotating by means of a key or feather 25' which is secured by fastening means 26 to the rear end of the shell or body 1, the extremity of said key 25 working in a longitudinal groove or key-way 27 in the feed screw 22. This permits the feed screw to move longitudinally or slide through the worm gear 23, the latter serving as the feed screw actuating means for advancing the feed screw longitiulinally. \Vhen the trip finger 20 comes in rontact With the trigger 18, the latter swung on its pivotal mounting and is then thrown forcibly against the cap 17 thereby igniting the time fuses 16 which control the bombs 15, the latter upon exploding serving to shutter and destroy the supporting wings ti. allowing the torpedo to descend rapidly upon the enemy.

The motor which is attached to the rear end of the propeller shaft 4, embodies a holder 28 in the form of a sleeve which is fast on the iropeller shaft and which has wound spira ly thereon a tube or container 29 in which is placed a slow burning owder such as that employed in bombs and skyrockets. said container as it burns serving to impart rotary motion to the propeller shaft. At the initial end of the container is arranged a firing cap 30 against which is adapted to strike a firing pin 31 actuated by a compression or firing spring 32. The firing pin 31 is slidable through a bearing member and has on its outer end an angular handle 31 which as it is turned co operates with a cam or inclined face 35 at the outer end of the bearing 33. To start the mechanism, the operator grasps the handle 34 and turns the same through a circle or part of the circle until it drops off the high portion of the cam face, whereupon the spring 32 drives the firing pin 31 against the cap 30, causing the latter to explode and ignite the train. of powder in the tubular container 29. The torpedo is then launched into the air.

In order to adj net the height of the saddle 12 and consequentlv the angle of the body or shell 1 of the torpedo, the saddle 12 is formed with a pendant shank 36 having a rack or toothed face 37. Meshing with the rack face 37 is a worm 38 fast on the upper end of an upright shaft 39 journaled in a bearing bracket 40 attached to the wheel base platform 7. Fast on the shaft 39 is a beveled gear 41 with which meshes a beveled car 42 on a short hand operated horizontal s aft 43 having at the outer end thereof an operatin crank 44. The operator by initially revo ving the crank arm 44 may raise or lower the saddle 12 and give the desired inclination to the body or shell 1 of the torpedo, as well as the propeller shaft, thereby at the same time regulating the angle of thrust of the propeller 3 in accordance with the desired altitude to be obtained by the torpedo before the destruction of the supporting wings 6 thereof.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation of the device will now be understood. Before launching the torpedo in the air, the manually o erated firing hammer or trigger is pulled aok and released so as to strike the cap which ignites the powder inthe spiraled container above referred to. This starts the propeller shaft and causes the tractor propeller to propel the torpedo in the air, the ahitude attained by the device being governed by the horizontal rudder which has previously been adjusted. 1\ ftcr a prcdeterinincd length of travel of the torpedo, which may be regulated by adjusting the trip above described, the time fuses controlling the wing destroying bombs are ignited and soon thereafter the said bombs explode and shatter and destroy the wings. Thereupon the torpedo falls Lo the earth and upon striking the same, the torpedo shell or body which contains an. explosive and if desired shrapnel, is fired by impact against the ground or any other hard surface, causing great destruction in the ranks of the enemy.

l claim:--

1. In an aerial torpedo. the combination of a supporting base, a torpedo body supported thereby, a tractor propeller at the forward extremity of said body, a propeller shaft extending centrally and longitudinally through said body, supporting wings projecting from said body, wing destroying bombs located adjacent to said wings, a time fuse for said bombs, an explosive powder actuated motor on the rear end of said propeller shaft, and means controlled by said motor for igniting said time fuse after a predetermined lapse of time.

2. In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a supporting base, a torpedo body supported thereby, a tractor propeller at the forward extremity of said. body, a' propeller shaft ex tending centrally and longitudinally through said body, supporting wings projecting from said body, wing destroying bombs located adjacent to said wings, a time fuse for said bombs, an explosive powder actuated motor on the rear end of said propeller shaft. and means actuated by said motor for igniting said time fuse after a predetermined number of revolutions of said motor.

.3. In. an aerial torpedo, the combination of a supporting base, a torpedo body supported thereby, a tractor propeller at the forward extremity of said body, a propeller shaft extendin centrally and longitudinally through said body, supporting wings projecting from said body, wing destroying bombs located adjacent to said wings, a time fuse for said bombs, an explosive owder actuated motor on the rear end 0 said propeller shaft, means actuated by said motor for ignitin said time fuse after a predetermined num er of revolutions of sand motor, and means for varying the number of revo1utions required to effect the ignition of said time fuse.

4. In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a supporting base, a torpedo bod su ported thereby, a tractor propeller at the fhrward extremity of said body, a propeller shaft extending centrally and longitudinally through said body, supporting wings projecting from said body, wing destroying bombs located adjacent to said wings, a time fuse for said bombs, an explosive powder actuated motor on the rear end of said propeller shaft, means controlled by said motor for igniting said time fuse after a predetermined lapse of time, and adjustable means for governing the altitude attained by the device as a Whole.

5. In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a supporting base, a torpedo bod sup ported thereby, a tractor propeller at t e for- Ward extremity of said body, a propeller shaft extending centrally and longitudinally through said body, supporting Wings proiecting from said body, Wing destroying bombs located adjacent to said Wings, a time fuse for said bombs, an explosive powder actuated motor on the rear end of said propeller shaft, means controlled by said motor for igniting said time fuse after a predetcrmined lapse of time, and an explosive charge contained in the body of the torpedo and adapted to be fired by impact.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

GIUSEPPE ROSSI.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained i'or five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G." 

